Lawn sweeper



sepa, 21924. f f 1,507,317

' E. E. LABERGE LAWN SWEEPER Original Filed Sept. 26, 1922 EnzeSteEZaZerge.

Patented Sept. 2, 1924.

EBLNESTE E. 0l' BOCILIFFE, ONTARIO, GANADA.

LAWN SWEEPER.

Application lled September 88, 1922, Serial No. 590,717. Renewed February l, 1924.

To all 'whom it may concern.' Y

Be it known that I, ERNESTE E. LABERGE, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Rockli'e, in the county of Russell and Province of Ontario, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lawn Sweepers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to manually propelled lawn sweepers comprising novel and eiiicient means to sweep the grass, dust or foreign matter into a receptacle which may `be readily dumped and cleansed.

One of the objects of my invention is to produce a sweeping machine having means to readily interchange or reverse the brushes so as to lengthen their duration.

A further object is to provide a sweeping machine capable of sweeping lawns and the like, which, although working on the principle of the common house sweeper, has improvements both in the construction and capacity to successively cope with this purose.

Among other aims and objects of my invention may be cited the provision of a sweeping machine compact and durable in form, composed of few parts and ot simple construction.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of a sweeping machine constructed in accordance with my Vpresent invention.

Figure 2. isv a longitudinal sectional elevation.

Figure 3 is a front sectional elevationJ portions of which are broken away to show the construction more clearly.

Figure 4 is an enlarged transverse sectional elevation showing the construction of the sweeping rotor.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary detail showing a portion of one of the rotor brushes.

Figure 6 is an enlarged vertical section through one of the driving wheels of the sweeping machine.

Referring to the drawings in detail,

whereinsiinilar numerals of reference des-v ignate corresponding parts, the numerals 7 and 8 designate the side members of the frame of the machine in which are j ournaled the transverse axles 9 and 10 and on which are substantially mounted the stub axles 11 upon which the supporting wheels 12 and 13 are rotatably mounted.

The numerals 14 and 15 designate the drive wheels of the machine, the same being substantially mounted on the outer extremity of the axle 9. The said drive wheels are cast, being provided with integral spur gears 16 which mesh with and drive the pinions 17 carried by the axle 10, upon which the sweeping rotor is mounted. f

. The sweepin rotor constitutes'a sleeve 18 mounted on ax e 10 provided with a pluralit),7 of integral tangential flanges 19. The said flanges are provided with tapped apertures for the reception of machine screws 20 which pass through elongated openings 21 configurated in the brush heads 22. It 1S obvious that the. elongated apertures 21 provide means whereby the brushes 23 -may be adjusted with relation to the surface of the ground, as required. A rotor so constructed not only sweeps but acts as a fan to elevate the sweepings.

I provide means whereby upon retrogression of the machine the sweeping rotor will cease to rotate in the following manner: The outer terminals of the axle 10 are provided with transverse grooves 24 for reception of keys 25, as shown in Figure 6. Ar-

cuate openings, designated by numerals 26, are shown in the hubs 27 of the pinions 17. One end of said arcuate openings 26 is ap- 'oroximately radially flat while the adjoining end is angular] configurated, as denoted by the numerals 277. It is obvious that the fiat end of one of the said arcuate openings 26 abuts against the said key, resultant that the shaft 1() rotates with the pinions 17. Upon retrogression of the machine the said pinions are rotated in a contrary direction' with the result that the angularly conirigurated terminals of the arcuate openings 26 coincide with the angularly disposed edges oir the keys 25, resultant that the key is shoved out of engagement. The angularly disposed extremity of the adjoining arcuate openings 26 will, however, cause the key to move backwardly to assume the former position. This reciprocating movement is maintained during retrogression of the machine.

The numeral 28 designates the hood over the brush for the purposeof directing the sweepings into the receptacle29. The forward extremity of the machine is made stable by the transverse bars 30 substantial with the side members 7 and 8 of the frame.

A :flexible lip, designated by the numeral 31, is secured to the lower redge of the covering 28 for the purpose. of preventing the dust and foreign matter passing forwardly l under the saidv covering 28', also providing means whereby "adequate suction may be .created by the rotor.

- lower or raise the hinge, t lereby regulatin the distance between the receptacle 29 an' the und. e

The numeral 34 designates a baille or guide l vplate 'which is transversely disposed. in the said rece tacle v29 for the purpose of directing the ust and foreign matter -into the rece tacle.

e machine is provided with a handle 35 mounted lon the tonguev36 carried by the lateral arms 37 which are stabilized by the braces 38 and are hingedly connected,v as at 39, to the side members -7 and 8of the frame. The extent of the movement of vthe said tongue and'handle is controlled bythe arcuate guides 40 lmounted on the inner sides ofl the sidel members 7 and 8 of theframe. Stub shafts 11` are, slidingly mounted on frame members 7 and 8 bymeans of grooves 43 in the frame and ybolts 44, thusy providing means whereby the rear of the frame may be raised or Alowered to adjust the distance be. tween the member 31 and the groundto suit different surfaces. v,

The mode of operation islasfollows: .The i operator, in advancing the machine,lgrasps the handle 35, exerting a propulsive momen tum to cause the machine to advance, re. sultant that the drive wheelsv14 and 15 are caused to rotate. vRotation of the drivel wheels 14 andll will cause the inions 17 to engage with thel axle 10, resu tant'that the sweeping rotorisl caused to rotate about its axis.' Grass, dust and y foreign matterl l encountered areswept mto-the receptacle 29. 46

It is obvious that a considerable area may be swept without the necessity of dumping the receptacle 29. 'When this dumping operation is requiredl the handle 41 is grasped and the recptacle29' elevated to the position 60 shown in gure 2. When the receptacle assumes the osition shown in Figure 1, the v Eojections, esignated by the numerals 42, ar on the axle 9 or equivalent supporting IDBBIIS.

while it vis believedtha from the' foregoing description the nature and advantages of my invention will be readily comprehended, I desire to have it understood that;

the same is merely an illustration vofthe 09 preferred embodiment of my invention to which I do not wish to limit myself, and that deviations from such detail in the practical adaptation of my device for commercial purposes ma be resorted to as ldo not lform a dei l v arture rom'lthe spirit of the invention as ellied by the appended claim. v

a1m:- l

Asweeping machine of the character described -consttuting a' wheel support' '71?v frame, drive ,wheels carried by the sai frame, a sweeping.-v and elevating rotor, means rotating t e said rotor .by therotation-f of the-said-dnve wheels, a hingedly mounted container vcarried'A bythe frame,..means for 7|' l directing the and foreign matter swe t up b` the said rotor into the said reoeptac e, a de e ector'mountedin the container, and a flexible lip carried by the s'aidde'lector, di-

-rectingmeans adapted to prevent dust and 0 foreign matter passing under the forward endo'f the said machine, .and to ,enhance the suction of therrotor'." 1

e' vIn testimony: whereof I aixvmy signature.

E; E; LABERGE. 

